The Citadel 8, Air Force 3
The Citadel 6, Air Force 5
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Skylar Hunter worked the final two innings of the second game to set a Citadel record with his 30th career save, and freshman Drew Ellis homered in both contests as the Bulldogs took both ends of a doubleheader against Air Force and swept the season-opening three-game series at Riley Park.
The Bulldogs scored five times in the eighth inning to win the opener 8-3 and held off a Falcon rally for a 6-5 victory in the nightcap. The Citadel is 3-0 for the first time since 1983.
The Bulldogs hit the road with a Tuesday game at North Florida. The Citadel takes on College of Charleston next weekend with games at Patriots Point on Friday (3 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.) and Riley Park on Saturday at 2 p.m.
In game one, the Bulldogs used a baseball rarity to break a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the eighth. After an Austin Mapes double put runners at second and third with nobody out, Falcon relief pitcher Nathan Stanford began to issue an intentional walk to Ellis when catcher Travis Wilkie left his box behind the plate before the ball was released.
A balk was charged to Wilkie, pushing across Philip Watcher with the go-ahead run. Ellis then drove home Mapes with an RBI single, and later in the inning, freshman Clay Martin delivered his first collegiate hit, a pinch-hit triple with the bases loaded that broke the game open.
JP Sears, yet another first-year Bulldog, did not allow a hit over the final three innings and struck out three to pick up the victory. Austin Livingston went the first 5 1/3 innings and gave up all three Air Force hits and runs, and Zach Lavery stuck out the final two batters of the sixth with the bases full to keep The Citadel within 3-1.
The left-handed hitting Ellis went opposite field for his first career home run to lead off the second, and Johnathan Stokes brought the Bulldogs into a 3-3 tie with a two-run double in the sixth. Stokes had three hits including a pair of doubles, and Ellis reached base all four times with two hits, a walk and a hit by pitch.
In game two, Hunter moved ahead of Citadel Hall of Famer Hank Kraft on The Citadel's all-time saves list but not before running into difficulty in the eighth. He surrendered two hits and a run in the inning before setting down the Falcons in order in the ninth.
Hunter, who struck out three in his two innings, also batted for the first time in his Bulldog career and chopped a single up the middle in the bottom of the eighth.
The Citadel took advantage of wildness by Air Force starter Jacob DeVries in the first, scoring runs on a wild pitch and an RBI single by Connor Walsh to take a quick 2-0 lead. Watcher doubled in a run in a two-run fourth, his first career hit, and Ellis bombed a homer to center an inning later to make it 5-0.
Two Falcon runs and a Mapes sacrifice fly in the sixth kept the Bulldogs ahead 6-2 when Air Force's Tyler Jones and Jordan Hanlin reached Watcher for solo homers in the seventh to pull the visitors within 6-4.
Austin Mason threw six solid innings for The Citadel, allowing only three hits and two runs (one earned) with no walks and six strikeouts. Ross White got the final out in the seventh before Hunter closed it out.
Furman 8, Akron 7 (10 inn.)
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Jordan Simpson belted two home runs, including a two-out walk-off clout in the bottom of the 10th inning, to give Furman an 8-7 victory over Akron in Saturday afternoon baseball action at Latham Stadium.
The victory evens the three-game series at a game apiece heading into Sunday’s 1 p.m. finale that will be video live-streamed over the SoCon Digital Network and audio streamed via Stretch Internet, accessible through FurmanPaladins.com.
Simpson, a junior second baseman, helped Furman (1-1) erase a 7-2 deficit with a two-run home run in five-run Paladin sixth inning that tied the contest at 7-7.
The Paladins failed to convert a chance to win the game in the bottom of the ninth after Sky Overton reached base on a swinging third strike passed ball and stole second.
Furman didn’t miss its chance in the 10th, however, as Simpson worked the count full from Akron reliever Jon Pusateri before launching the solo clout over the left-field fence for the game-winner.
The Paladins’ comeback was aided by solid relief pitching over the final four innings as Will Dvorak and Elliott Warford combined to hold Akron (1-1) scoreless on just two hits. Warford (1-0), who worked the final three frames, surrendered only a one-out single in the ninth and pitched around an error in the 10th to earn the victory. He struck out two.
The loss was charged to Pusateri (0-1).
Akron grabbed a 3-0 lead in the fourth off Paladin freshman starter Will Gaddis. Dom Iero’s leadoff home run down the right-field line into the wind got the Zips on the board. Brian Lees then singled with two outs and came around to score on a Paladin throwing error. Matt Remielak’s RBI single to right field made it 3-0.
Furman answered with two runs in the fifth on a Carter Grote RBI double that plated Simpson, and an Akron fielding error that allowed Grote to score.
Akron appeared to ready to take command with a four-run sixth, highlighted by an Iero two-run single to center field off Paladin reliever Grant Schuermann and a Lees RBI single off Schuermann’s replacement, Dvorak, that gave the Zips a 7-2 advantage.
With two outs in the sixth, Furman began its comeback off Zips reliever Josh Lapiana with a Chris Ohmstede double and the first of two Simpson clouts to left field. Grote followed with a solo shot, also to left field, to make it a 7-5 game. The Paladins continued the frame with an Andrew MacLatchie walk and bunt single by Overton that set the table for freshman Michael Campoamor’s game-tying, two-run double to deep left-center field.
Simpson went 2-for-3 in the game with three RBIs and three runs scored. Grote also went 2-for-3 and drove in a pair of runs while scoring twice.
The Paladins finished with nine hits.
Akron was paced at the plate by Iero, who went 4-for-6 with a home run and three RBIs. Daulton Mosbarger, Remielak and Lees contributed two hits apiece for the Zips, who collected 13 hits.
The Zips stranded 14 base runners in the game, including 12 in the first six innings.
ETSU 12, Eastern Kentucky 2
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The frigid temperatures couldn’t slow down the ETSU baseball team this weekend at Thomas Stadium.
Trey York belted a pair of home runs and Jordan Sanford added one of his own as the Bucs cruised to a 12-2 win and swept the shortened series over Eastern Kentucky on Saturday afternoon.
As a team, the Blue and Gold pounded out 12 hits, while York, Sanford, Kevin Phillips and Zach Thompson all registered multi-hit games. York – who now has three home runs on the season and four for his career (all coming against EKU) – drove in a career-high four runs and tied a career best with three hits.
Sanford extended his streak of reaching base safely to 22 consecutive games after going 2-for-4 with his homer, while Jeremy Taylor pushed his hit streak to 11 straight games following an RBI single in a four-run second inning. Phillips was 2-for-5 with a triple, an RBI and two runs scored and Thompson went 2-for-4 with an RBI, one run scored and a stolen base.
Meanwhile, as the Buccaneer hitters were feasting on EKU pitching, ETSU’s hurlers were mowing down the Colonel batters. Junior Lee Haeberle (1-0) made his first start in a Buccaneer uniform and picked up the win after allowing one run on five hits and struck out five in six innings of work. Fellow junior Griffin Krieg – who was slated to start the series finale – tossed two innings of one-run ball in relief, and freshman Ryan Simpler struck out the side to end the game in the ninth.
ETSU (2-0) has now won three straight season-opening series and six of their last seven.
EKU (0-2), like they did in Friday’s opener, jumped ahead in the top of the first as Shea Sullivan led off with a double to right-center and scored on Taylor Blair’s single to left-center. Haeberle did a nice job working out of a jam as Blair moved to second on a passed ball, but Hagen Oweny picked off the EKU designated hitter. Following a one-out walk to Mandy Alvarez, Haeberle forced Kyle Nowlin to fly out to right and ended the inning by striking out TJ Alas swinging.
The Blue and Gold answered with four runs on four hits in the second and led, 4-1, after two complete innings. Phillips and Andrew Lasure led off the frame with consecutive singles, and after both runners moved up on Sanford’s sac but, Thompson drove in the first run on his sac fly to center. From there, York continued his clutch two-out hitting by driving in Lasure with a single to left and the Buccaneer second baseman scored on Taylor’s single up the middle. With runners on the corners, Taylor looked to have been picked off, but EKU first baseman Ben Fisher’s throw to second went into the outfield, allowing Daniel Tucker – who earlier worked a five-pitch walk – to score the fourth and final run of the inning.
York was at it again in the fourth as he led off the inning with a towering home run over the wall in left-center, extending ETSU’s lead to 5-1.
Haeberle settled in after surrendering the first-inning run as he held EKU scoreless for the next five frames and the Buccaneer bats continued to remain red hot.
Following the four-run second and York’s solo shot in the fourth, ETSU opened things up with a five-run sixth to grab a nine-run lead, 10-1. The long ball came into play again in the inning as Sanford led off the sixth with a solo shot off the scoreboard, while York followed with a two-run blast after Thompson reached via a walk. From there, Tucker and Taylor both reached on walks, and with the bases loaded, Owenby brought in Tucker by taking four straight pitches outside the strike zone. Taylor eventually scored the fifth run of the frame on Lasure’s fielder’s choice RBI.
The Colonels ended their scoring drought when Alas homered in the eighth, but Krieg bounced back to the end the inning, while the Bucs plated two more in the bottom half of the frame. Phillips brought in Owenby on a triple to left-center and the ETSU first baseman scored on a wild pitch.
Simpler struck out the side in his collegiate debut in the ninth to secure the 10-run win.
Sophomore left-hander Alex Hamilton took the loss (0-1) after issuing five runs (four earned) on six hits in five innings.
Alas and Doug Teegarden both finished with two hits for the Colonels. Overall, EKU finished with eight hits.
The teams were scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday, but the coaches decided to cancel the finale prior to the start of the game due to the cold temperatures rolling into the area.
The Bucs return to action next weekend when ETSU heads to Spartanburg, S.C., for the Upstate Classic. The Blue and Gold take on the tournament host USC Upstate on Friday at 4 p.m.
Samford 10, Radford 8
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford baseball team overcame an early seven-run deficit to earn a 10-8 win over Radford in the second game of a three-game series Saturday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
After Radford grabbed a 7-0 lead in the second inning, the Samford bullpen limited the Highlanders to one run over the final seven innings.
Offensively, with Samford behind 8-3 entering the fifth inning, the Bulldogs plated seven runs over the final four innings to come back for the win. The comeback was aided by a pair of two-run home runs. Richard Greene hit his second homer in two games to tie the game in the seventh inning, and then Alex Lee homered in the eighth inning to give the Bulldogs the lead.
For Samford at the plate, Hunter Swilling went 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs. Lee and Greene had two hits, including a homer and two RBIs apiece. Jared Watson went 2-for-5 with an RBI, while Anthony Gonzalez went 2-for-4 for the Bulldogs.
Mark Donham (1-0) earned the win on the mound for Samford, pitching 2 innings, allowing no runs on two hits. Andres Gracia tossed the final inning to earn his first save of the season. Jared Brasher, Eric Wright, Philip Flach and Jake Greer also saw time on the mound for the Bulldogs.
For Radford, Patrick Marshall went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and five RBIs. Josh Reavis went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Josh Gardiner went 2-for-4 for the Highlanders. Travis McQueen (0-1) pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits to take the loss on the mound for Radford.
The Highlanders plated three runs in the first inning and four runs in the second to take a 7-0 lead over the Bulldogs. Marshall hit a three-run homer for the runs in the first inning. In the second inning, Reavis drove in two runs and Marshall drove in one, while Marshall later scored on a double steal.
Samford started its comeback with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Swilling, Brandon Powell and T.J. Dixon drove in Samford’s runs in the inning to cut the Radford lead to 7-3.
After Radford added a run in the fourth inning, Samford plated a run in the fifth inning to make the score 8-4. Swilling singled to drive in Heath Quinn for Samford’s fourth run of the contest.
Samford added two runs in the sixth inning to close to within two runs at 8-6. Gonzalez doubled to lead off the inning and then scored on a single by Greene for the inning’s first run. Greene later scored on a single by Watson.
In the seventh inning, Swilling was hit by a pitch to start the inning and then moved to second base on a bunt by Brandon Powell. With two outs, Greene homered to left field to tie the score at 8-8.
In the eighth inning, Watson singled to lead off the inning. With one out, Lee homered to left field to give the Bulldogs a 10-8 lead.
Gracia came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning. After allowing a single and a pair of one-out walks, Gracia retired the final two batters to end the threat and secure the win for Samford.
With the win, Samford improves to 1-1 on the young season. Radford falls to 1-1 with the loss.
Samford and Radford will conclude their series with a game Sunday at 1 p.m. CST at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
Wofford 11, Xavier 3
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Valentine’s Day, the Wofford College baseball team defeated Xavier 11-3 at Russell C. King Field. The Terriers pitching staff recorded 18 strikeouts, while the offense came up with 13 hits to put together a complete team victory.
Wofford is 2-0 on the season, while Xavier is 1-2 overall. Pitcher Luke Leftwich threw five innings with nine strikeouts, while John Caskey earned the save with four innings on the mound and nine strikeouts. Matt Ramsay and Matt Pelt each had three hits in the game, with Pelt hitting a three-run homer. Mack Nathanson added a three-run homer and James Plaisted had a two-run shot.
The Musketeers began the game with back-to-back singles. With one out, another single loaded the bases. A single by Brian Bruening drove in two runs before a pair of strikeouts ended the top half of the first.
In the bottom half, Alec Paradowski led off with a walk for the Terriers. With one out, Plaisted blasted a shot down the left-field line that cleared the fence to tie the game at 2-2.
Wofford led off the bottom of the third with a single by Ramsay and a double by Plaisted. Nathanson then cleared the left-center wall with a three-run homer. It was Nathanson’s first career hit and gave Wofford a 5-2 lead.
Xavier got one run back on a solo home run by Chase Puente in the top of the fourth to make it a 5-3 game.
Wofford led off the fifth with a walk to Demetrius Jennings and a single by Conor Clancey. After a sacrifice bunt by Kody Ruedisili advanced the runners, Pelt drove a ball into the trees in left-center with a three-run homer for an 8-3 Terrier lead. Paradowski drew a walk on a 10-pitch at-bat with two outs, which was followed by an RBI double off the wall in left-center by Ramsay to push the lead to 9-3.
Xavier had a pair of singles in the top of the seventh, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the scoring opportunity. The Musketeers were retired in order in the top of the eighth, which included two strikeouts.
In the Wofford half of the eighth, two runners were on base after a fielder’s choice and a single by Nathanson. With two outs, Conor Clancey hit a fly ball to center field that dropped in for a single. Both runners scored to make it an 11-3 contest.
Wofford starting pitcher Leftwich (1-0) threw five innings with three runs allowed on seven hits. He had nine strikeouts and did not walk a batter. Caskey, in his first action in almost a year, recorded the save by going the final four innings. He struck out a career-high nine batters with only one walk and allowed only two hits.
Eric Stiene (0-1) started for Xavier and went four innings. He allowed five runs on seven hits with three strikeouts. Garrett Schilling worked an inning and gave up four runs on three hits with a strikeout. Daniel Przeniczny went the final three innings and allowed two runs on one hit with three strikeouts.
Wofford will face Dayton on Sunday at 1 p.m. to close out the opening weekend. On Wednesday afternoon, the Terriers will travel to Presbyterian College.
Western Carolina 15, Purdue 4
Purdue 9, Western Carolina 5
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina claimed its season-opening nonconference three-game series with Purdue, splitting a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. The Catamounts pounded out 19 hits and got a solid relief pitching effort from sophomore B.J. Nobles in a 15-4 series-clinching victory in game one before dropping the finale, 9-5.
Between the two games, WCU outscored Purdue, 20-13 but was unable to complete the season-opening series sweep. The loss in the second game also snapped WCU’s 11-game home winning streak, which dated back to last season. It was the first home loss for the Purple & Gold since dropping back-to-back games against Furman on April 12 and 13, 2014.
Senior Bradley Strong shined on Saturday for the Catamounts, finishing 7-for-11 in the twin bill with four extra-base hits including a pair of doubles and two triples. With the pair of three-bag hits, Strong moved into a tie for the school record for career triples, matching former Catamount Martin Barrow (15, 1995-98). Strong scored three runs while driving in five over the two-game set.
Overall, WCU had seven extra-base hits in the doubleheader with four doubles, two triples and a home run by senior Jacob Hoyle. However, Purdue managed to out-slug the Catamounts on the day, finishing with nine extra-base hits with seven doubles, a triple and a solo home run by Justin Gubser.
In game one, Nobles struck out a career-best 11 in six relief innings.
Nobles came on in the fourth inning and tossed six scoreless innings, scattering three hits to pick up his first seasonal victory and the second of his WCU career. The Raleigh, N.C., product struck out the first four batters he faced out of the bullpen and retired seven straight hitters between the seventh and ninth innings.
Freshman Brendan Nail threw three innings in his first career start on the mound for WCU, surrendering four runs on six hits with two walks and a pair of strikeouts.
Trailing 3-2 entering the bottom of the third inning, Western Carolina seized control of game one with a five-run frame. The Catamounts had the bases loaded with two outs when J.D. Long reached on an infield single to plate the game-tying run. Then, freshman Caleb Robinson singled to the shortstop to plate a run, and the force throw looking for the third out sailed high and allowed two more runs to score. Strong then drove his first of two two-RBI doubles to the gap in left-center field to make it 7-3.
The two teams traded runs in the fourth before WCU got a 2-spot in the home half of the fifth on an RBI triple by Strong and a Matt Smith RBI single through the right side to stretch the Catamount lead to six, 10-4.
Leading 11-4, the Catamounts pushed across four runs with two outs in the eighth inning to provide the final tally. Austin Atwell started the two-out rally with a double down the right-field line before freshman Brett Pope drove him home on a single up the middle. Long collected his second RBI of the day on a single into center field to score Pope and move Kramer Ferrell, who was hit by a pitch, into scoring position. Freshman Spencer Holcomb then delivered his first collegiate base hit with a two-RBI single into left field. Holcomb finished 1-for-1 with a walk in his two trips to the plate.
For Purdue, starter Brett Haan (0-1) took the loss after allowing seven runs – only three of which were earned – on nine hits with four strikeouts and a walk in 2 2/3 innings. Kyle Van Hoeck worked a third of a frame before Shane Bryant tossed the final five innings, allowing eight runs on 10 hits with two Ks and one free pass.
The two hitters at the bottom of Purdue’s lineup – Jeff Evak and Harry Shipley – had two hits apiece on 2-for-4 showings at the dish, Shipley posting an RBI. Justin Gubser drove in two runs on a 1-for-3 outing, belting solo home run to open scoring in the second inning.
In game two, Purdue pushed across five runs in the opening two frames and held off Western Carolina to claim the series finale Saturday afternoon.
The top four hitters in Purdue’s lineup all had multi-hit games in the finale, including three-hit showings by Michael Vilardo and Brandon Krieg. Kyle Johnson drove in three runs on two hits to pace the Boilermakers offensively.
Strong was again the catalyst for WCU, which stranded eight base runners in the finale. The Richlands, Va., native finished 3-for-5 with a triple and two runs scored. He was the only Catamount with multiple hits in the final game.
After falling behind 5-0, WCU managed to trim the lead to two, 5-3, with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. The left-handed batting Hoyle dropped an RBI single into the opposite field to put WCU on the scoreboard in plating Strong, with Pope drawing a bases-loaded walk to drive in the second run. Hoyle capped the scoring in the frame by scoring on a passed ball as WCU stranded two in the inning.
Purdue responded with two runs in the top of the fifth to take a 7-3 lead only to see WCU answer with a 2-spot of its own in the bottom of the inning. Redshirt freshman Pierce Suttles opened the inning with a single to center field and advanced to second on an error in the outfield. He later took third on a wild pitch before coming home on an infield single and error to Strong, who wound up on second base. After swiping third, Strong capped the scoring on a Danny Bermudez groundout to make it 7-5.
That was as close as the Catamounts would get, though, despite several opportunities late. Strong tripled to open the seventh before WCU stranded runners at the corners. Down four, WCU had two runners aboard in the ninth before reliever Joe Eichmann, who earned the save, struck out three Catamounts in a row to end the game.
Meanwhile, Purdue plated solo runs in the top of the eighth and ninth innings to provide the final score. Vilardo tripled to open the eighth before coming home on a double by Krieg to make it a three-run game, 8-5. Then, in the ninth, an error on a failed pickoff attempt at first base allowed Jack Picchiotti to score from second base.
Purdue reliever Kyle Wood (1-0) picked up the win after throwing three innings in relief of starter Matt Frawley. Wood scattered four hits and limited the potent Catamount offense to two runs – only one of which was earned – with seven strikeouts. Frawley was solid in the start, fanning five against three walks while giving up three runs on just three hits, tossing a no-hitter through the first three innings.
Catamount starter redshirt sophomore Dillon Bray (0-1) was saddled with the loss in his first collegiate start. The Hamptonville, N.C., product surrendered five runs on five hits with two strikeouts against a walk. Junior Colton Davis tossed 3 1/3 innings in relief, striking out three with three walks while giving up two runs on four hits.
Junior Taylor Durand struck out four against a pair of walks in two innings of two-hit, two-run relief, while senior Tyler Powell tossed the ninth, striking out a pair.
Western Carolina is scheduled to host mountain-rival UNC Asheville in midweek, nonconference action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.
Virginia Tech 11, Mercer 4
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University baseball team saw a sixth-inning lead slip away, as Virginia Tech scored eight runs over the final four frames to even the season-opening series with an 11-4 victory on Saturday afternoon at Claude Smith Field.
Virginia Tech got on the board first, taking advantage of a pair of Mercer errors to push two runs across in the top of the third inning. The Hokies added another run off an error in the top of the fifth for a 3-0 advantage before Mercer answered in the bottom half.
After the Bears’ first three batters of the inning reached to load the bases, freshman Trey Truitt came up with his second long ball in as many days. The Dothan, Ala. native drove the first pitch of his at-bat over the left field wall for a grand slam to put Mercer on top, 4-3, heading into the sixth.
However, things would go downhill from there, as the Hokies plated five runs in a key sixth inning before adding a trio of insurance runs over the final two frames.
Austin Lord was tagged with the loss, after giving up four runs in the fifth. Freshman starter Connor Herd had a solid collegiate debut on the mound, giving up three runs, all unearned, in 4 2/3 innings of work.
A day after reaching double figures in the hits column, the Bears (1-1) were held to five hits while leaving nine runners on base. Nate Moorhouse paced the team with three hits in his season debut, while Truitt pushed his season RBI total to seven with his fourth-inning grand slam.
Mercer will look to win the season-opening series as it closes out play with the Hokies on Sunday at Claude Smith Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
High Point 12, UNCG 2
HIGH POINT, N.C. – High Point jumped out to an early lead Saturday and scored late to pull away as the Panthers evened their series with the UNCG baseball team via a 12-2 victory at Williard Stadium.
The Spartans (1-1) committed five errors and hit into three double plays while HPU (1-1) out-hit the Blue and Gold 12-8.
Senior RHP Brennen James took the loss in his first start of the season, allowing three runs, of which none were earned. He walked three and struck out two. In all, eight Spartans made an appearance on the mound. Tyler Britton recorded the win for High Point, going 5 innings and allowing just two runs (one earned). He walked one and struck out a batter.
Senior infielder Eric Kalbfleisch turned in a strong showing at the plate, notching three hits and scoring a run. Senior outfielder Tyler Long accounted for the other run scored.
After the Spartans went down in order in the top of the first, High Point struck first with an unearned run on two hits and an error to take a 1-0 lead after an inning. UNCG responded in the next half inning as Kalbfleisch led off with a double to left center and moved to third on a passed ball. Junior infielder Collin Woody then drove him home with a sac fly to knot the score.
James ran into trouble in the bottom of the second as, with one away, a walk, single and fielding error loaded the bases for High Point. He struck out Williamson for the second out but walked Spencer Angelis to plate the Panthers’ second run. James then induced a groundout to escape further damage.
Another unearned run for High Point on a James wild pitch made the score 3-1 in the bottom of the third, but the Spartans put up a rally in the top of the fourth. Three straight singles by Long, senior infielder Hunter King and Kalbfleisch loaded the bases with no outs for Woody. Unfortunately for UNCG, he hit into a double play, but Long did score on the play to cut the HPU lead to 3-2. Senior designated hitter Aaron Wright then put a charge into one and hit it deep to right field, but it fell just short of the track and into the fielder’s glove for the final out.
UNCG brought on freshman RHP Daniel Dulaney to pitch the bottom of the fourth and he was greeted with a leadoff single by Dane McDermott. The Panthers would score two runs in the inning on a groundout and RBI single to extend their advantage to 5-2.
The Blue and Gold tried to put together a two-out rally in the top of the fifth, but after Shelton reached on an error, senior outfielder Zac MacAneney grounded out to end the half inning. King drew a one-out walk in the top of the sixth before Kalbfleisch drove a single to left center. UNCG could not bring the runners home, however, as Woody flew out and Wright struck out to terminate the threat.
A failed pickoff attempt by junior RHP Keaton Haack led to a bases-loaded situation for the Panthers in the bottom of the frame, but sophomore LHP Julian Abreu and freshman RHP Cody Fitch were able to combine for a fielder’s choice and a strikeout to keep HPU off the board.
The Spartans looked to take advantage in the seventh, but freshman infielder Tripp Shelton grounded into UNCG’s third double play of the game as the game hit the stretch with the Panthers holding onto their three-run lead.
HPU established some more breathing room with two outs in the bottom of the seventh as an RBI single and the Spartans’ fifth error of the day allowed two runs to cross and make the score 7-2. MacAneney gave the Blue and Gold a spark with a leadoff double in the top of the eighth, but he only reached third before the half-inning came to a close.
High Point closed the scoring in the bottom of the eighth, tallying five runs on three hits.
Weather permitting, UNCG returns home Monday to host the final game of the series. The Spartans and Panthers will begin the proceedings at 4 p.m. inside the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
North Florida 16, VMI 11
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In a game that had four ties, five lead changes, 27 runs and 37 hits, the North Florida Ospreys broke open the contest with seven runs in the eighth inning and went on to defeat the VMI Keydets, 16-11, in nonconference baseball action Saturday. The UNF win evened the season-opening series at one game apiece.
VMI (1-1) had rallied from a 9-6 deficit with four runs in the eighth inning to take a 10-9 lead, but UNF (1-1) sent 12 men to the plate in the bottom half to take the lead for good. Taylor Edens started the inning and gave up an RBI single to Alex Merritt before departing. Jonathan Kelley relieved but gave up a run-scoring single to Patrick Ervin and a three-run double to Ryan Roberson, as well as issuing a bases-loaded walk to force in a run. Corbin Olmstead tacked on an RBI double off freshman Eric Byrd to cap the North Florida scoring, while Ray Lopez scored a wild pitch in the ninth to account for the final margin.
In the setback, Will Malbon had his first career four-hit game, scored three runs and drove in another three, while Lopez went 5-for-5 with three runs scored.
Malbon was the instigator early, as he helped the Keydets take a first-inning lead when he led off with a double. One out later, Brandon Angus walked and so did Matt Winn, loading the bases. Tyler Tharp then delivered a two-run single to put the visitors ahead, 2-0.
The VMI lead was short-lived, as after a leadoff walk in the bottom half of the frame, Donnie Dewees homered to right center to tie the game, 2-2.
North Florida then scored twice more off starter Blaine Lafin in the second. Patrick Ervin had an RBI infield hit and Dewees followed with an RBI groundout, making it a 4-2 contest.
The Keydets took the lead back in the fourth. Lopez doubled with one out, and Jacob Jaye followed with a walk to end UNF starter Bryan Baker's day. Malbon greeted reliever Dan VanSickle with a two-run triple, tying the score, 4-4, and Jordan Tarsovich followed with a sacrifice fly to make it a 5-4 contest.
The Ospreys tied it in the bottom half on an RBI double by Keith Skinner and took the lead in the fifth. Merritt led off with an infield hit, and the next batter, Alex Bacon, reached second on a throwing error. UNF got a run home on an infield out, bringing Austin Heenan out of the bullpen with runners at second and third and one out. Heenan uncorked a wild pitch to make it 7-5 UNF after five innings.
VMI squandered a golden opportunity in the sixth after putting two runners on with no outs. Malbon struck out and Lopez was picked off second base to end that threat, and Olmstead promptly led off the next half inning with a solo home run, bumping the margin to 8-5, UNF.
The Keydets battled back in the eighth, however. Thomas Stallings led off with a pinch-hit single, and Lopez tripled to right-center to score him. One out later, Malbon poked an RBI single to right and stole second.
Matthew Naylor relieved for the Ospreys, but Tarsovich singled and Angus drove in a run with a fielder's choice, tying the game at 8. Winn followed with an RBI single to give the Keydets the lead, 9-8, but Alex Smith struck out Brian Dudeck Jr. with two on and two out to end the inning, setting the stage for North Florida's rally in the bottom half.
In a game that was a battle of bullpens, neither starter figured in the decision. Lafin worked two innings and was charged with four runs on five hits, while Baker pitched 3 1/3 frames and was also charged with four runs.
The winning pitcher was Smith (1-0), who worked 1 1/3 innings and surrendered one run. Edens (0-1) took the loss for the Keydets after being charged with four runs, all earned, on three hits in 1/3 of an inning.
VMI baseball will return to action Sunday, as the Keydets take on the Ospreys in the rubber game of the three-game season-opening series. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.